Method of making hand-grip sleeves



July 1, 1,930. R. E. RILEY METHODl O'F MAKING HAND GRIP SLEEVES FiledJan. '12, 1929 f W 4 @n Patented i 1, y1793i) UNITED STATES 0F DELAWAREMETHOD or MAKING HAND-.Gnirsnnnvns My said invention yrelatestoimprovements in hand'grip sleeves adapted for various articles butdesigned more particularly orgolf club shafts, andv` to themethod ofmaking the same.

The invention aims to provide a sleeveV which can be produced as anarticleof manufacture and shippedto the clubmanufacturers or to thepublicA generally ready for easy application to the club vhandle toproduce an effective non-slipping grip portion.

The invention further aims to provide a sleeve of this character whichwill permanently retain its non-slipping characteristics.

The invention further aimsto provide a novel method by which thelsleeves may be rapidly and economicallymanufactured, and the comminutedcork which produces the nonslipping characteristics Willbe embedded inthe carrying'sleeve and firmly united thereto.

With these and other objects invview, the

I invention includes the novel article and methmethod. f

p Fig. 3 is a similar view to illustrate a modi-F fication. C

v In proceeding according tol my invention,

' I mold a tube l of rubber compound or analo` gous material inaftwofpart mold comprising upper and lower members-2 and 2a, hav1ng vmold cavities 2*and2cto cooperatewith the tapered tubular sleeve willibeproduced, andy mandrel or coreB, the ends of which are held in recessesin the ,mold sections.`

The-cavities andfcore are so shaped a they may/be 'provided withirregular or wavy portions whereby corresponding ridges will be producedin thesleeveV to serve las nger markings,'as indicated at la. The sleevethus formed of unvulcanized material is partially vulcanized,'as`byplacing the mold ina suitV able-vulcaniz1ngpress. c

After such partial vulcanizatiomthe,sleeve become detached therefrom. jd

[Insteadf' using `a core to define' the interior ofthevv sleeve'v during'preliminary or final VRALPH n. RILEY, or AKRON, oHIo, nssrefivon,` BYMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, rro,

MILLER/.RUBBER COMPANY, INC., OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION` lis removedffromthe mold and is given one or more coats ot rubber cement,preferablyby Vmak-ing :two dipsof the sleeve in thecement The sleevel isthenbroughtinto 'contact and allowingthe cement to .drain from the isleeve at'one end after the first dip and from the `other end'afterthe.second"dip.

withcolmminutedlor powdered'cork', which v adheres to 'the surfacethereof. Such contactmay be produced by sprinkling the sleeve with thecork or rolling the sleeve on thecork while the latter is suitablysupported. i e

The coated sleeve is then placed lbackin thesamefmold, or in a similarone havingL a cavity slightly larger thanv the first to com-- pensatefor thethicknessof cork, and vul- Vcanization is completed undersuiiicient pressuref(which need `not'be as 'greatas the presf- "sureduring partial vulcaniz'ation), which i.

causes v the cork particles t to i be'y embedded in the 'surface of thevsleeve "and tto be `vulc'ant ized `thereto so lodged.

fThe resultingvsleeve, 4by' 'reasonof theem- ,7,5

bedding of the .cork-particles,' has a smooth exterior surfacewhich,`due to its' cork covering-"y possessesv the` desirednonslippingcharacteristics, while at thesame time the reas to be incapable`ofbeingdSvi siliencyjof the sleeve'isrnot interfered with', 1

ici-iid vit iscapable of being distended for lapplication to theclub'shaft `or analogouslhanl dle`,`"tofwhich` it willifirmly adhere onconvie-p tract-icm"k v sleeve," thel individual `cork particles, thoughMerniitting stretching 'ofjthe lfsleevej,J cannot vulcanizat'ion`,I `may'provide core plugs4 3 Bynes-0110i maraa; @medioevali ,the p and 3bwithin the ends ofthesleeve, as shown A in Figi 3,- the'se yplugs fhaving parts'a fand V) k'clampedwithinrecessesin the molds, aridone i ,i

of them; (a)'having` ahollow stem a* through r thebor'e of which air forother fluid may be forced to expand the sleeve during vulcanization.

Y The purpose of partial vulcanization isto i get the sleeve in acondition where itcan be handled in applyingthe comminuted cork 2y p I1,768,933

Without liability of distortion, and yet have a `surface which will besusceptible of vulcanization, whereby the cork particles Will bevulcanized in place in their embedded con- 5 dition. v

' As a modificationy of the processhereinbefore described, I may carrythe vulcanization of the sleeve further and to the point of comn ,Yplete Vulcanization before the Y cork is applied,vand thereafter giveksaid sleeve a coating'y of a vulcanizable cement, preferably of athickness which Will enable the particles to become embedded thereim Ithen sprinkle or evenly distribute 4the `comminuted cork over the cementcovered surface' and subject thearticle tofurther vulcanization as in vtheiirst methodfdes'cribed, which vulcanizes i z .the vulcanizablecement and thus vulcanizes 1 the particlesz in placegin thecement andthe cementto the sleeve. f n

. `Having thus described `my invention, what y I claim is? u v -V 1.,'The hereindescribed method which consists in forming a sleeve ofpartially vulcan- L5 ized vulcanizable material, applying commi- .pnuted anti-slippingrmaterial to the exterior surface-thereoiandcompleting the vulcanization. Y K

2. The hereindescribed method which con- ,i sists in forming a sleeveofpartially vulcanized vulcanizable material, applying commie ln utedanti-slipping materialy to the exterior surface'thereof, and completingthe vulcanit 4zration under sufficient pressure to cause. the .35particles to become embedded -in'the material and:vulcanized thereto:` YY sist-s informing a sleeve of partially vulcanized rubber, applyingVYcork particles tothe t 40 'surface thereof, and completing thevulcanization.l l

si'stsinformingasleeve of partially vulcanv i,rzedjrubbenapplyin'g acoating of rubber cement tothe exteriorsurface thereof, apply- A ingalayer of evenly distributed comminuted' cork to Vthe cementcoveredsurface, 4and completing thelvulcanization. Y

gynThe hereindescribedmethodwhich consiste in forming asleeve ofpartially vulcance ized,rubbeniapplying' a'vcoatirng'` of rubber n Ycement to the exterior surface thereof, apply- Vcork to thecementcovered surface, and .comypleting4 the, vulcanization,under.-suflicient -thiet0.j v ,f -V v f Y Y -`lIntestirmony. whereof,Iaaiiix my Signature.

"' RALPH-E.

3., The hereindescribedmethod lwhich cuonlThe hereindescribed methodwhich con- ,inga layer ofevenly*distributedcomminuted l pressure tocausesai-d comminjuteid;corks to be .f vf. l

embedded .in .theaubber and -vulcanized CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,768,933.. Granted July l, 1930, to

RALPH E. RILEY.

It is hereby certified that the assignee in the above numbered patentwas erroneously described andspecified as "The Miller Rubber Company"whereas said assigneeshould have been described and specified as MillerRubber Company, Inc., of Wilmington; Delaware, a corporation ofDelaware, as shown by the records of assignments `in this office; andthat the said Letters Patents shouldbe read with this oorrection thereinthat the same may conform to the record of the `case vin .the PatentOffice.

Signed and sealed this 26th dayof August, A. D. 1930.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner oi Patents.

